Heating system



E. A. RUSSELL HEATING SYSTEM July 20, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 2, 1936 I m/ant Y IdMardA. 55m

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES Parent eerie HEATING SYSTEMApplication March 2,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in heatingsystems, more particularly to means for insuring an immediate flow ofsteam into the radiators of a steam or vapor heating system of the typeused on railway cars when the thermostat again calls for heat after aperiod of time during which the flow of steam tothe radiators has beencut oif.

In one Well known form of steam or vapor heating system, a so-calledvapor regulator is usedfor cutting oil the further flow of steam fromthe source of supply whenever the radiating system becomes filled withsteam. The steam from the supply first flows through the vapor regulatorpast a thermostatically controlled cut-off valve in the regulator andthence through the radiators and back to the vapor regulator. Thisreturned steam contacts with a thermostatic element which expands andcloses the cut-01f valve to prevent further flow of steam from thesource through the vapor regulator. As the steam in the system and incontact with the thermostatic element condenses, the thermostaticelement will contract and open the valve so as to admit more steam tothe system. Before reaching the radiators, the steam flows through acontrol or distributing valve. This valve is usually thermostaticallyset in accordance with temperature changes in the space heated by theradiating system. When heat is required the valve is open and steamflows through the radiators before returning to the vapor regulator.When no further heat is required, the control valve is closed so as toshunt the steam from the source directly back to the thermostaticelement of the vapor regulator. Under such conditions (that is with thecontrol valve in so-called closed position) the cut-off valve in theregulator will normally be closed, only opening at intervals to admitsuificient steam to the short loop through the distributing valve tokeep the thermostatic element expanded. Now when more steam is desiredin the radiators and the control valve is thrown to open position, theflow of steam through the vapor regulator will not start until the steamin contact with the thermostatic element has been dissipated and thiselement has time to contract and open the cut-off valve in theregulator. This causes a delay or lag in the process of admitting steamto the radiators, and it is the purpose of the present invention to doaway with this lag.

According to this invention a by-pass conduit is provided around thecut-off valve of the vapor regulator, there being a normally closedvalve in this conduit. Motorized means is provided for 55 opening thisby-pass valve for a predetermined 1936, Serial No. 66,681

short period of time immediately after heat is called for and thecontrol valve is opened. As a result the flow of steam to the radiatorswill begin immediately through this by-pass and will continue until thethermostatic element of the vapor regulator has had time to contract andopen the cut-off valve of the regulator. By this time the by-pass valveWill close and the steam will flow through its normal path of travel inthe vapor regulator. The by-pass valve remains closed until the controlvalve is again opened after a period or" time during which the flow ofsteam has been cut off.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved heatingsystem of the type briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more indetail in the specification which follow.

Another object is to provide improved means for preventing delay inadmitting steam to the radiators, due to the lag in the operation ofopening the vapor regulator valve.

Another object is to provide an improved form of motorized by-pass valveand control mechanism for the same.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description of one approved combination ofapparatus elements constructed and operating according to the principlesof this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. perspective view, partly diagrammatic, showing theassembled apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the by-pass valve.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through a vapor regulator.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram.

The heating system to which these improvements are applied comprises ingeneral (see Fig. 1) the source of steam A, the reducing valve B, thevaporregulator C, the control or distributing valve D, the radiator orradiators E, and the thermostat F and relay mechanism G for controllingthe valve D. The improvements which have been added in accordance withthe present invention include the by-pass conduit H, the bypass cut-ofivalve J, and the motorized mechanism K for operating the valve J, thismechanism K also being controlled by thermostat F through relaymechanism G.

The main steam supply pipe A (which in the case of a railway car heatingsystem is the main train steam line extending throughout the length ofthe train from the source of steam at the locomotive) is connectedthrough pipe I, re-

low pressure chamber 5 is connected with high pressure chamber 3 throughpassage 6, and the movable cut-off valve 1 is adapted to close against avalve seat 8 so as to stop the flow of steam from chamber 3 into'chamber5. Steam from low pressure chamber 5 flows out through port 9 and thencethrough the piping and heating system hereinafter described. Excesssteam and the condensate from the heating system flows back to the vaporregulator and enters through port l0 into a passage ll extending downinto a return chamber l2 in which is positioned an expansiblethermostatic disk 13. I Condensate can how out through passages 14 inthe lower portionof the regulator. temperatures it will expand and forceup an operating rod M which through rocking lever I5 and valve stem [6moves valve 1 againstits seat 8 so as to out off the further flow ofsteam to the heating system. When steam no longer flows back intochamber l2 and the steam therein has condensed, the disk I3 willcontract thus permitting valve 1 to open, whereupon further steam willflow through the vapor regulator to the heatingsystem. This vaporregulator functions to keep the heating system filled with steam atsubstantially atmospheric pressure, since the system is open. to theatmosphere through the ventsof the vapor regulator. It will beunderstood that this vapor regulator C may take a-variety of forms, asare now well known in the art, the one hereinabove described beingdisclosed merely by way of example.

7 Steam flows from the low pressure chamber 5 of the vapor regulatorthrough pipe l'l'to the control or distributing valve' D. This valve isof well known type and comprises a plurality of chambers into which thevarious pipe connections lead, these chambers being connected indifferent selected relation by means of a central rotatable valvemember. A pipe line I8 leads from one of the valve chambers to theradiator or plurality sition steam will flow from the vapor regulatorthrough pipe I! to and through valve D, thence through pipe l8,radiators E and pipe l9 back tothe valve D and from the valve throughpipe 2!) back tothevapor regulator. When valve D is moved to closedposition the steam will be directed from supply pipe I! through thevalve and back through pipe 20 to the vapor regulator, the pipe loopthrough the radiating system being cut off except for a drain outlet forthe condensate therein. I

Referring briefly to Fig. 4, the movable element of valve D iscontrolled by a rocking lever 2| pivoted centrally at 22. When lever 2|isin the position shown in this figure, the valve D is closed. The core23 of a solenoid motor 24 is connected through rod 25 with the core 26,of a,

similar solenoid motor 21. A yoke member 28 on rod 25 engages the upper,arm of lever 2|. Now if solenoid coil24 is energized, the core 23 willWhen disk I3 is exposed to steam be drawn to the left thus swinginglever 2| in a counter-clockwise direction to a correspondingly inclinedposition toward the left, this serving to move the valve to openposition. At the completion of this valve-operating movement, the lowerarm of lever 2| will, through crank arm 29 of the snap switch 30, shiftthe movable contact 'member 3| out of engagement with a fixed con- 'tact32 (thus breaking the operating circuit through solenoid 24) and intoengagement with a second fixed contact 33. The circuits for operatingthis valve D are controlled from relay mechanism G through wires in theconduit 34 (Fig. 1), the relay mechanism G being in turn controlled fromthermostat F through the circuit in conduit 35. Typical circuits forthis purpose will'be hereinafter described.

The heating system as thus far described is well known inthe art and'operatesas follows: Steam from the supply pipe A flows through reducingvalve B, vapor regulator C and distributing valve D to and through theradiating system E: When excess steam flows back through the pipe lineI9, valveD and pipe 20 into the return chamber of the vapor regulator,the thermostatic" heating system. However, as soon as some of.

the steam in the system has condensed and the thermostatic element I3 isno longer exposed to asteam temperatureythis element will contract andopen the valve 'l'thus permitting additional steam s I In this mannerthe radiating system is maintained full of just sufto flow into thesystem.

ficient steam for heating purposes (that is as long as control valve Dis open). When the desired temperature has been reached in the space Vheated by the radiating system E, the thermostat F will function throughrelay mechanism G to move valve D to its closed position. This will cutoff the further flow of steam through the radiating system E, but steamwill now flow from the vapor regulator through the short loop comprisingpipe line l1,- valve D and pipe line 20 directly back to the returnchamber of the vapor regulator. This portion of the conduit system willbe maintained full of steam at all times, but since very little steam isrequired for this purpose it will be apparent that the thermostaticelement I3. will be normally expanded and the valve I normally closedunder these conditions (that is when valve D is closed). Assuming nowthat the temperature within the space being heated has fallen so thatadditional heat is nowdesired from radiating system E, the thermostat Fwill function to cause valve D to be moved to open position. However,there will probably be no immediate flow of steam. into the radiatingsystem since vapor regulator valve 1 is closed pose of the presentimprovement to avoid this delay and supply steam immediately, as soon ascontrol valve D has been moved to open position, even though the vaporregulator cut-off valve 7 has not yet been opened.

According to the present invention a by-pass conduit I-I ispro-vided,this. conduit connecting 58 and 59 back to the battery.

the high and low pressure chambers 3 and of the vapor regulator. In thepresent example this by-pass H comprises a pair of short pipe sections36 and 3? connected at their outer ends by a looped fitting 38. Vaporregulators of the type here shown usually are provided with a pair ofports 4 leading into opposite sides of the high pressure chamber 3 andsimilarly a pair of ports 9 leading from opposite. sides of the lowpressure chamber 5. This is done so that the pipes 2 and ll can beconnected with the vapor regulator from either side thereof as may bedesirable in the particular installation, the two ports that are notused being closed by screw-plugs. The pipe sections 36 and ti of theby-pass H are connected into these normally unused ports. It will beapparent that this by-pass might be built directly into the vaporregulator assembly if so desired.

Into one of the pipes of by-pass H is connected the valve J (shown insection in Fig. 2). This valve comprises an inlet chamber 33 and anoutlet chamber it: separated by a web ll in which is a port d2 normallyclosed by the movable valve member 53. Valve member 53 is carried by avalve stem M, and a spring 55 surrounding the lower portion of thisvalve stem normally holds the valve in closed position as shown in Fig.2. The motor mechanism indicated generally at K is adapted, throughshaft 46, to rotate the cam ll in a counter-clockwise direction as seenin Fig. 2. The raised portion 43 of this cam is adapted to engage thehead .9 on valve stem A l which projects (through a suitable packing)from the valve casing. The raised portion 63 of the cam is of sucharcuate length that as the cam is rotated through somewhat less than 180from the position shown in Fig. 2 the valve 43 will be opened and heldopen for a predetermined period of time and then permitted to closeagain under the influence of spring 45. A suitable speed reduction isprovided between the motor and shaft 56 so that valve 43 will be heldopen for a predetermined short period of time, for example about 18seconds. This time should be just sufficient to permit the thermostaticelement l3 to contract and the valve l to open after the valve D hasbeen shifted to open position. The motor mechanism K is actuated andcontrolled through circuit wires in a conduit 56 from the relaymechanism G.

The electrical system will now be more completely described, referringagain to Fig. i. The relay mechanism G comprises a solenoid coil 5!which may be energized from the battery or other source of power 52through the following circuit: Through wire 53, resistance 54, terminal55, coil 5!, terminal 56. resistance 55, and wires When coil 55 isenergized it will lift the core it and through stem 6! raise movablecontact plate 62 into the position shown in dotted lines in which itengages and connects the fixed contacts 53 and 64.

The thermostat F is here shown as of the mercury-column type. A wire 63extends from one terminal 55 of the solenoid coil to a fixed terminalwhich is in constant engagement with the mercury column 56 of thethermostat. A wire El extends from the other terminal 56 of the solenoidcoil El to a second terminal which is mounted in the thermostat tube soas to be engaged by mercury column 66 when a predetermined maximumtemperature is reached in the space whose temperature is to beregulated.

When this desired maximum temperature is reached. a shunt circuit aroundthe solenoid coil is completed as follows: From terminal 55 through wire65, mercury column 66, and wire 6'! to the other terminal 56. This willdeenergize the solenoid so that core 66 will fall and contact plate 62will be lowered into engagement with a second pair of fixed contacts 58and 39.

On the shaft 46 of motorized valve operating mechanism K is mounted asecond cam 10 adapted to alternately engage with a pair of pivotedcontact arms I! and 12. These contact arms are connected by a spring 13which tends to urge these contact arms toward a pair of fixed contacts14 and 75 respectively. When cam member l0 is rotated to the positionshown in Fig. 4, the arm M will be lifted out of contact with fixedcontact i l. but contact arm 12 will be held by spring 13 in engagementwith the other fixed contact 15. When cam 16 is rotated through an angleof 180, the arm 12 will be engaged by the cam and pushed out ofengagement With fixed contact 15, but spring 13 will then move the otherarm ll into engagement with the fixed contact 14. This switch mechaanismcontrols the motor K.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the desired temperature has been reached in thespace that is being heated and valve D has been closed so that steam nolonger fiows through the radiating system E. At this time, however,steam will continue to fiow through the short loop comprising pipe ll,valve D and pipe 26 back to the vapor regulator so that thermostaticelement it will be normally expanded and valve 1 closed. When thetemperature in the space that is being heated falls sufficiently,mercury column 66 of thermostat F will move down out of engagement withthe upper fixed contact and the shunt circuit which short-circuits thesolenoid.5l will be broken. Core will now be energized and snap switch36, and wires 8!, 82, and 59 back to the battery. The energized motor 24will draw in core 23 and swing the operating lever 2| toward the leftthus moving valve D to open position. At the completion of this movementsnap switch 33 will be operated to swing the movable contact 5i out ofengagement with fixed contact 32 and into engagement with fixed contact33, thus breaking the operating circuit through motor 2t.

At this same time a second actuating circuit will be completed asfollows: From battery 52 through wires 53, E6 and ll, relay contacts 63,62 and 65, wires l8 and 83, switch contacts 15 and lit, wire 84, motorK, and wires 85, 82 and 59 back to the battery. The motor K thusenergized will rotate cam ll in a counterclockwise direction. The raisedportion 48 of the cam will immediately engage the head 49 and depressvalve stem i so as to open the valve 43 and permit a fiow of steamthrough the by-pass H connecting the high and low pressure chambers ofthe vapor regulator. This will permit steam to flow from supply pipe 2through the vapor regulator and pipe ll to the control valve D (nowopen) and thence through the radiators E.

, battery. Thiswillcause lever arm 2| This flow of steam is permittedimmediately (when valve D is opened) without waiting for the vaporregulator valve 1 to open. The by-pass valve J will continue open for a.predetermined period of time, during which time steam is no longer beingreturned to chamber l2 so that thermostat l3 will contract and open thevalve 1. This will establish the normal flow of steam directly throughport 6 of the vapor regulator and the by-pass valve J may now bepermitted to close since its function has been completed. Before valve41 has been rotated through an angle of 180 the cam portion 48 will havepassed out of contact with head 49 and valve 43 will be closed. At thecompletion of this rotation of 180, the cam 'HJ (Fig. 4) will haverotated into engagement with swinging contact 12 and broken theenergizing circuit of motor K, thus stopping the motor. In the meantimespring 13 will have moved contact 'll intoengagernent with contact '14but this will not complete any circuit until the solenoid5l is againdeenergized.

Steam will now flow through the vapor regulator in the normal manneruntil the radiating system has become filled with steam and returnedsteam has again expanded thermostatic element l3, whereupon valve Twillbe closed temporarily to cutoff the further fiow of steam into theheatingsystem. From this time on the vapor reg ulator will function inthe usual manner to intermittently admit more steam to the heatingsystem as the steam is condensed.

This operation will continue until the temperature within the spacebeing heated has again been raised to such a point that the shuntcircuit through thermostatF is completed, whereupon solenoid 5| willagain be short circuited and contact plate 62 will drop into engagementwith the other pair of fixed contacts 68 and 69 as now shown in Fig. 4.A second actuating circuit will now be completed through motor 21 ofvalve D as follows; From battery 52 through wires 53, I6 and 86,relaycontacts 68, 62,'and 69, wire 81, solenoid coil 21, wire 88, snap switchcontacts 33 and 3|, and. wires 8|, 82 and 59 back to the to be swungback to the position shown in Fig. 4 thus closing valve D. At the sametime a second actuating circuit will be completed which extends from thebattery through the relay contacts to contact 69, thence through wires81 and 89, switch contacts 14 and 1|, wire 84, motor K, and wires 85, 82and 59 back to the battery. This will again energize motor K and causecam 41 to be rotated through another angle of 180 until cam 16 hasengaged and lifted the arm H to the position shown in Fig. 4 thusbreaking the circuit through motor K. This will return cam 41 to theposition shown in Fig. 2, but during this 180? rotation of the cam thevalve J has not been opened. All of the parts are now again positionedas shown in the drawings so as to be ready for another cycle ofoperations when thermostat F again calls for heat. It will be noted thatthe heating system operates substantially the same as it has'doneheretofore, except for the fact that the delay in supplying steam whenneeded to the radiators, due to the inherent lag in the operation ofvapor regulator'C, is'eliminated. This added mechanism is controlledfrom the same thermostatic mechanism heretofore used, and a more promptand efficient control of the temperature isprovided.

'I claim: p i r l. The combination with a source of steam, 8.

' and supply and return pipes connecting the con-' trol valve andradiator, the control valve whenin closed position sending steamdirectly back to the vapor regulator and when in open position directingthe steam first through the radiator and then back to the vaporregulator, of a by-pass conduit extending around the cut-ofi valve ofthe vapor regulator, a normally closed valve in the by-pass, and meansfor temporarily opening the by-pass valve each time the control valve ismoved to open'position.

2. The combination with a source of steam, a vapor regulator comprisinga cut-off valve and a thermostatic element for closing the valve whenheated by exposure to steam, a control valve, a

a radiator, a supply pipe leading from the vapor regulator beyond thecut-off valve to the control valve, a return pipe leading from thecontrol valve to the thermostatic element of the vapor regulator, andsupply and return pipes connecting the control valve and radiator, thecontrol valve when in closed position sending steam directly back to thevapor regulator and when in open position directing the steam firstthrough the radiator and then back to the vapor regulator, of aby-passconduit extending around the cut oif valve of the vaporregulator, a normally closed valve in the by-pass, and thermostaticallycontrolled means for opening and closing the control valve and for alsoopening the by pass valve for a short time whenever the control valve isfirst opened.

'3. The combination with a source of steam,

a vapor regulator comprising a cut-01f valve and a thermostatic elementfor closing the valve when heated by exposure to steam, a control valve,a radiator, a supply pipe leading from the vapor regulator beyond thecut-ofi valve to the control valve, a return pipe leading from the.

control valve to the thermostatic element of the vapor regulator, andsupply and return pipes connecting the control valve and radiator, thecontrol valve when in closed position sending steam directly back to thevapor regulator and when in open position directing the steam firstthrough the radiator and then back to the vapor regulator, of a by-passconduit extending around the cut-ofi valve of the vapor regulator, anor- 6 mally closed valve in the by-pass, and thermo staticallycontrolled means for simultaneously opening the control valve and theby-pass valve and for subsequently closing the latter'valve after .apredetermined short period of time.

4. The combination with a source of steam, a

vapor regulator comprising a cut-off valve and a thermostatic elementfor closing the valve 2 i when heated by exposure to steam, a controlvalve, a radiator, a supply pipe leading from the vapor regulator beyondthe cut-off valve to the control valve, a return pipe leading from thecontrol valve to the thermostatic element of the vapor regulator, andsupply and return pipes connecting the control valve and radiator, thecontrol valvewhen in closed position sending steam directlyback to thevapor regulator and when in open position directing the steam firstthrough the radiator and then back to the vapor regulator, of a by-passconduit extending.

around the cut-01f valve of the vapor regulator, a normally closed valvein the by-pass, motorized means for opening the by-pass valve andsubsequently closing same after a predetermined short period of time,and means for causing an operation of the motorized means simultaneouslywith the opening of the control valve.

5. The combination with a source of steam, a vapor regulator comprisinga cut-ofi valve and a thermostatic element for closing the valve whenheated by exposure tosteam, a control valve, a radiator, a supply pipeleading from the vapor regulator beyond the cut-off valve to the controlvalve, a return pipe leading from the control valve to the thermostaticelement of the vapor regulator, and supply and return pipes connectingthe control valve and radiator, the control valve when in closedposition sending steam directly back to the vapor regulator and when inopen position directing the steam first through the radiator and thenback to the vapor regulator, of a by-pass conduit extending around thecut-oh" valve of the vapor regulator, a normally closed valve in theby-pass, motorized means for opening the by-pass valve and subsequentlyclosing same after a predetermined short period of time, andthermostatic means for opening and closing the control valve andstartting an operation of the motorized means each time the controlvalve is moved to open position.

6. The combination with a source of steam, a vapor regulator comprisinga cut-off valve and a thermostatic element for closing the valve whenheated by exposure to steam, a control valve, a radiator, a supply pipeleading from the vapor regulator beyond the cut-off valve to the controlvalve, a returnpipe leading from the control valve to the thermostaticelement of 40 the vapor regulator, and supply and return pipesconnecting the control valve and radiator, the control valve when inclosed position sending steam directly back to the vapor regulator andwhen in open position directing the steam first through the radiator andthen back to the vapor regulator, of a by-pass conduit extending aroundthe cut-on valve of the vapor regulator, a normally closed valve in theby-pass, motorized means for opening the by-pass valve and subsequentlyclosing same after a predetermined short period of time, andthermostatic means for opening and closing the control valve wheneverthe temperature in the space heated by the radiator falls below or risesabove a predetermined temperature, said thermostatic means also startingan operation of the motorized means at the same time the control valveis moved to open position.

7. The combination with a source of steam, a vapor regulator comprisinga cut-off valve and a thermostatic element for closing the valve whenheated by exposure to steam, a control valve, a. radiator, a supply pipeleading from the vapor regulator beyond the cut-off valve to the controlvalve, a return pipe leading from the control valve to the thermostaticelement of the vapor regulator, and supply and return pipes connectingthe control valve and radiator, the control valve when in closedposition sending steam directly back to the vapor regulator and when inopen position directing the steam first through the radiator and thenback to the vapor regulator, of a by-pass conduit extending around thecut-ofi valve of the vapor regulator, a normally closed valve in theby-pass, a rotary cam for opening the by-pass valve, motorized means forrotating the cam at a rate to hold the valve open for a predeterminedshort period of time, thermostatic means for simultaneously opening thecontrol valve and starting an operation of the motorized. means, andmeans for stop-ping the motorized means after the bypass valve hasreturned to closed position.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL.

